Skoll Lesson Three: Every Brave Woman Needs a Posse

During the three days that Fartuun Abdisalaam Adan, Fahima Hashim, and Christine Shuler Describyer, were in Oxford, they got to meet others working in dangerous, difficult places and to feel less alone. In fact, they met each other for the first time. As I—“Mama Pat”—shepherded them around Oxford with Eve, who was responsible for their presence at the Forum as all three receive VDAY funding and support, someone suggested that we were a posse.

We all decided that yes, we were, and in fact, the three things we could all agree on that were necessary for all brave, activist women through out the world were: communication (a phone and maybe even a computer), a little money, and most importantly, their own posse!

I will be praying for my posse to be safe in Somalia, Sudan, and Congo, and for their work to continue to turn victims to victors. I believe more strongly every day that educated and empowered women can and will be the change agents of this big, unfinished revolution.